Dear Friends
Welcome to our December newsletter.
It’s hard to believe that this is the final newsletter of 2025, it seems like only yesterday I was drafting the new years highlights of 2024, doesn’t time fly when you’re enjoying yourself… and this year has certainly been enjoyable, albeit very hard work.
The delivery of the one owner collection of garden bronzes was one highlight back in the summer, I had not imagined the scale of the task until a monumental HGV reversed into the driveway, but all good fun. Multiple pieces have found new homes, with plenty of rare unusual garden objects still for sale. Please do take a look to remind yourself of what is on offer, remarkably those Bears still require a new home, maybe as we come out of winter hibernation, they will find one.
The autumn 2025 catalogue has arguably been my most successful to date, with almost 80% of the items now sold and delivered to new homes around the globe.
In fact, last month we were contacted by a UK based gentleman who simply could not resist the Cloisonne enamel incense burner that I featured at plate 20. Upon safe receipt I received very complimentary feedback and have now added another serious collector to the database. Sincere thanks to that gentleman for his valuable patronage.
Late October into November delivered up the usual array of sales and exhibitions during what is traditionally Asian Art London period, only this year it was apparent that many of the major Japanese works were to be found in the provincial salerooms. Namely, an outstanding collection of lacquer wares that stemmed from an esteemed Australian collection, being sold in Somerset, as well as some very fine quality lacquer, enamels and ceramics, some from highly important 19th century collections, available in Wiltshire.
Being based within an hour or so of each venue I was close enough to view and handle both collections, which with enamel and lacquer in particular, was vitally important to do so. Condition is everything, literally everything in these genres of goods!!
The online marketing of both groups of goods attracted significant interest from around the globe, particularly the lacquer wares, where in many instances the best pieces were making many multiples of what they had sold for back in the 80’s-2000’s, it was quite an eye opener, it really was. Once again reinforcing the global demand for the very finest Meiji period Japanese artworks. I was able to purchase one or two outstanding pieces at a price that I was relatively comfortable with.
One or two of the artworks on offer were originally collected by Michael Tomkinson (1841-1921), an industrialist of Axminster carpets fame, whose vast and varied collections have been highly prized for generations, and generally cause great excitement whenever they hit the open market. Further evidence, if any were needed, that a well curated hand-picked collection purchased from trusted reliable sources, will generally be worth more than the sum of its parts when coming to market.
In November’s newsletter I promised to find a star item to close out this year’s exclusive members offer. Well, here we go, whilst modest in terms of price point, I am delighted to offer this most charming pure silver and mixed metal lidded trinket or jewellery box complete with its original tomobako. Fully artist signed by a well recorded former sword fitting maker who clearly excelled in the Katakiri-bori carving technique with the use of mixed metal inlays. The unusual scene of a young attendant at rest upon his buffalo is most endearing, a perfect Christmas gift for a loved one, or perhaps a treat for yourself. Simply click the image for further details.
And finally, on a recent chilly early morning walk on the beach I could not resist taking this picture of the sun rising over the Isle of Wight, can you spot the Cormorant drying his wings whilst perched upon the groyne in the foreground?
Have a wonderful festive season and a happy healthy new year.
Best wishes
Steve